Sweet 16 ~ Happy Birthday Dallin!

 This sweet and handsome boy is 16 years old!!!!! :)  :)

Dallin officially turned 16 yesterday at 12:46 p.m. but we have really been celebrating his birthday all week!!! (And really we celebrate him everyday...;) ;)

 Last Friday there was no school and so Dallin invited a few of his friends to come and celebrate with him. They played board games, went bowling, and ate pizza and Krispy Kreme doughnuts until they were stuffed!

 Then, on Saturday, we had our "Dating Date" at the Roof restaurant where we talked about all things "dating!" Dallin literally makes me laugh ALL the time! Here he is posing with his "dramatic" side that I get to see and laugh with all the time too! ;)

 We also have a tradition of giving our children a hope chest on their 16th birthday, which was no different for Dallin! I was lucky to find one in a style that I felt matched his beach loving personality and bedroom perfectly!

 Clint secretly put it together for me and then I set everything up for him to find it when he got home from school...

 I added the white roses for a special touch, and then developed some of the pictures we took at the temple from our "Dating Date!"

 These special times are so meaningful, and I try really hard to make them impactful...I always want my children to know and remember how much they are loved, how special they really are, and how deeply we desire to impress upon their minds all of these important life lessons that if they will heed, will bring them great joy and satisfaction...

 Inside Dallin's hope chest I placed his presents and was excited to see the look on his face when he would see all of the treasures for him!

 Sweet little Kambriella also made Dallin a homemade present too! She stayed up late working on it, and then added some money from her own little savings. 

 Kambriella knew that Dallin really wanted a Volkswagen bus for his first car (which he was NOT getting), so she decided to make one for him herself! It was so sweet of her to think about him and he was such a gracious receiver...:)

 Dallin was so so happy with is birthday gifts too!

A Hydro Flask with AWESOME stickers to go on it,

The GLO teeth whitening system,

A Hula dancing shark with a surf board for his dash board,

A surf board key chain,

A CTR ring and a SOH necklace (That's a "Sons of Helaman" symbol that looks like a surf board too...:)

Some new cloths, and money to go to the Vantage clothing store!

 After he opened up all of his presents I took him downtown to the Vantage store where we had a fun time looking through all of the old vintage style clothing that Dallin loves so much! I actually saw a floral denim skirt and vest just like the one I had in Junior High!!! Oh boy!!! :)

 After that it was time for Dallin to go to acting lessons, and then after that he came home for his favorite dinner of salmon and corn on the cob, and Birthday Cake!

I love how he so strategically placed all 16 of his candles! (Not!;)

 That strategic placement made for one great bonfire on the cake! ;)

 We sang happy birthday and sent videos to Clint and Kierra since Clint was in St. George, and then we watched a movie and stayed up way too late!!! Dallin said it was the BEST Birthday EVER which made me so happy since I worked so hard to make it that way for him...

Dallin, I love you my sweet boy! Happy sweet 16...and STAY that way!!! XOXOO

A Healthy Body

Yesterday I sprained my ankle..;(...and it hurt soooo bad! So I laid on the couch all morning long and then finally got up the courage to go and try to accomplish the things that I needed to get done for the day.

 (Like preparing for Dallin's birthday!)

Kesslyn and I went to the grocery store and to Scheel's to get birthday gifts, and things to make a cake, and we rode around the stores together in the electric shopping carts! (Yes, the same ones that you see all of the old people riding in...yes, that was me and Kesslyn.;) We took a picture in the elevator at Scheel's riding in the cart, and I thought a lot about how people in this circumstance permanently might feel. People were kind, and some people stared, but Kesslyn was in heaven, and I was grateful for the modern conveniences that are in place to help people...but really I just kept a prayer of gratitude in my heart all day long for my healthy body, and that I don't ever want to take it for granted. I am so grateful I am strong and healthy and able to care for myself and my family, and that with my healthy body I can  try to "go about doing good" and try to serve and help others too.

Today my ankle is feeling much better, and I'm going to try much harder to look out for people who may be in different circumstances that just might need a smile, or a kind word, and to always be grateful for the gift of a strong and healthy body!

The "Dating Date" With Dallin

 On Saturday, March 23rd, Clint and I took Dallin out on the "Dating Date!"

 This is our much anticipated tradition for all of our children on their 16th birthday!

 We have a special date where we go to the Roof restaurant in Salt Lake that is absolutely beautiful and has the most beautiful and perfect view of the temple! This is a purposeful plan because all that we talk about with dating should inspire and lead each person to finding an eternal companion that's perfect for them, and one day marrying in the temple, the holy House of the Lord.

 We started our date off with a prayer and a great conversation in the car on the way there. Once we were there, we took a few pictures and then were seated at our table. The atmosphere in the Roof is so peaceful! The beautiful piano music that is being played, the breathtaking views, and the delicious food make this a special place all in itself...

 ...but then you add a sweet teenage boy that is celebrating his 16th birthday, and his mom and dad that love him soooo much, and you have one special night!

 The warm, soft, buttery Lion House rolls that they kept bringing to our table were probably my favorite...:)

 ...but the salmon was so delicious, and Dallin fell in LOVE with the Butter-beer that he ordered...

The people there wished Dallin a happy birthday and brought him out his very own whip cream and candle topped ice~cream too! (As if the buffet of desserts wasn't enough! ;)

 Needless to say, I think he felt very special!

 We discussed everything about dating from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.

We discussed what to look for in a person you want to date, how to talk to them and their parents, how to protect them and keep them safe, how to have fun, be respectful and on time, and to always get them home on time! 

 Open their doors, be polite, give them your attention, and treat them like the princess that they are! Keep your phone put away unless you need to get a hold of someone for a specific reason, and date lots of people! Finding the right person to marry will be one of the single most important decisions of your life, and I Love the quote that says, "Choose your love, Love your choice!"

THAT is so important to do!!

 After talking, and eating, and sharing our special night, we took more pictures and tried our hardest to make the night last as long as possible. :)

 Dallin and Clint are so much alike, and they truly love each other. They are both such funny and easy going people and always have a good time when they are together...and they ALWAYS make me laugh.  ;)

 See what I mean?? :)

 There is no struggle to get a smile out of these two...That's really all they do all day long! And I'm the lucky one that gets to share this ride with them! :)

 Dallin...

 ...is a HOOT!!! ;)

 He is a sweet and loving boy and he already loves going to the temple. He always tells me he loves me and will kiss my cheek and give me a hug RIGHT in front of his friends...and I LOVE it!

 The girls that get a chance to date Dallin will be lucky girls in deed, and treated like royalty for sure! (And at least I know they will have fun and do some laughing for sure! ;)

 These pictures were taken for fun in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, just like we did for Kierra and Carew when they had their 16th birthday "Dating Date" too!

 Love that smile...

 ...LOVE this boy!!!

 Good luck out there Dallin! You have a fun and exciting time waiting for you and you will do amazing...

 ...because that is JUST who you are!

I love you Dallin! Happy 16th Birthday!

XOXOXOXO

"Go" Everyday

The other day I had a thought that was so strong in my mind that I took it and literally "ran" with it!

The thought was..."Go to the temple everyday."

I know that may seem difficult in a way, but to ME, it made total sense.

Going to the temple everyday to me means living my life so that the temple is in my heart and mind everyday. So, whether I see it, enter it, study about it, teach it to my children, increase my testimony of it, call it, think about it, or actually RUN to it...I want to "go" to the temple everyday! 

So, I have been going there for my run every morning...:)

I have been literally waking up and running to the temple!

This is the picture that I took while I was there...then I turned right around and RAN back home! It was a wonderful sight to run to, but I mostly have loved the lessons that I have learned on the way there...

 I listen to conference talks while running, and think about "going to the temple everyday." 

Not only was I able to run there in the morning, but went there with my son in law Riley while Kierra was visiting some friends she hadn't seen in a while...

 ...and then I went again to take my sweet boys...

No matter how or when we "go to the temple" ~ I want to always have the desire, heart, and mind of "going" to the temple everyday...and keeping the temple always in my heart.

Sunshine and Happiness

 After many days of rain and snow and cold weather, we finally had a peak at some blue sky and sunshine and it has been lovely! Kesslyn and I have gone on a couple of walks the past few days and I even spotted some fuzzy little blossoms on the trees that reminded me of pussy willows and they literally made me giddy with delight! (So I had to take a picture! ;)

Then, later on in the day it was warm enough for the kids to play outside! (Without coats! ;)

They played on  the grass making homemade stickers and it made me happy to see them enjoying that little plot of sunshine and happiness...;)

 I'm so grateful for so many things, but I definitely have a deep love for the beauties of nature and how to me they testify of Heavenly Father's creativity and how He has so much love for His children...I can't wait for more sunshine and warm days to come!